Isotretinoin
Also called Accutane, cis-RA and cis-retinoic acid.
A vitamin A derivative sold as Accutane, used for severe acne. It is the strictly regulated cousin of the retinoids in skin creams.
Sources and notes
- The introductionfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Other namesfrom sourceWikidataIts English label and aliases on Wikidata.
- Formula and weightcomputedPubChem
- 2D drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKit
- 3D modelfrom sourcePubChem 3D conformerLoaded after the page has painted, and on a phone only when you ask for it; the 2D drawing shows until it arrives.
Where you encounter it
Dispensed on prescription, not sold on a shelf. Isotretinoin on the product labels we hold.
Medicines
Every product and list we hold
Sources and notes
- The product labels and their strengthsfrom sourceDailyMed (FDA label)Each label lists the molecule as an ingredient, and an active ingredient at the strength shown.
- How it gets therefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedEach mark is set by hand on our lists, never inferred; a label's ingredient is added by the maker. A row with no mark data says Not marked.
- The line abovefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedFrom the group the molecule belongs to.
Explore its structure
Choose a part to light it up.
A carbon carrying both a C=O and an O-H, written COOH. In water it gives up that hydrogen, which is what makes the molecule an acid.
From: standard chemistry.
Rings joined where they share atoms, or a single ring standing alone. Atoms in a ring are held in place, so this part keeps its shape while chains around it can bend.
From: standard chemistry.
Sources and notes
- The drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKitThe page's one shipped drawing, with the chosen part lit in amber under it.
- The partscomputedFound by ruleEach part is found by a chemical pattern, never picked by hand atom by atom; its words say where they come from.
Compare a related molecule
Isotretinoin
Tretinoin
The same atoms; the marked double bond is cis in isotretinoin and trans in tretinoin.
Isotretinoin and tretinoin share one formula and differ in one double bond; tretinoin is mostly used on skin and isotretinoin by mouth for severe acne.
Isotretinoin vs Tretinoin, side by sideSources and notes
- The sentencefrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notesThe pair's answer line.
- The two drawingscomputedPubChem structures, drawn by RDKitDrawn the same way round; the amber marks where the two differ.
- The captionfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
Properties and sources
Calculated by PubChem
- Molecular formula
- C20H28O2
- Molecular weight
- 300.4 g/mol
- XLogP3octanol/water, log units
- 6.3
- Polar surface areatopological
- 37.3 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 1
- H-bond acceptors
- 2
- Rotatable bonds
- 5
- Complexity
- 567
Reported Hazard label (GHS), ECHA, HSDB via PubChem
Danger Irritant pictogram (GHS07), Health hazard pictogram (GHS08) and Environmental pictogram (GHS09); hazard statements H315, H319, H335, H360, H400, H410
Reported Licence
The US Food and Drug Administration licenses Isotretinoin for human use (NDA 021951, authorized May 25, 2012), as Absorica. Drugs@FDA
Groups it belongs to
- Category
- Prescription medicine
- Family
- Retinoids
- Chemical groups
- Carboxylic Acids
- Hazard classes
- Irritant, Health hazard, Environmental hazard, GHS Danger
CC1=C(C(CCC1)(C)C)/C=C/C(=C/C=C/C(=C\C(=O)O)/C)/CPubChem CID 5282379 · Wikidata Q287029 · InChIKey SHGAZHPCJJPHSC-XFYACQKRSA-N · Data refreshed
Questions
- What is Isotretinoin?
- A vitamin A derivative sold as Accutane, used for severe acne. It is the strictly regulated cousin of the retinoids in skin creams.
- How toxic is Isotretinoin?
- Its GHS hazard label carries the signal word Danger and the hazard pictograms Irritant, Health hazard and Environmental. from source
- What kind of molecule is Isotretinoin?
- Isotretinoin has the formula C20H28O2 and a molecular weight of 300.4 g/mol. MoleculeFinder files it under retinoids, in the prescription medicine group. from sourcefrom sourcefrom sourcefrom source
- What else is Isotretinoin called?
- Isotretinoin is also called cis-RA and cis-retinoic acid. from source
- Who licenses Isotretinoin as a medicine?
- The US Food and Drug Administration licenses Isotretinoin for human use (NDA 021951, authorized May 25, 2012), as Absorica. from source
Sources and notes
- Calculated valuescomputedPubChemComputed from the structure, so no laboratory conditions apply; complexity is PubChem's own structural score.
- Hazard labelfrom sourceECHA, HSDB via PubChemThe label combines these classifications.
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Licencefrom sourceDrugs@FDARead 2026-10-21.
- Data refreshedfrom sourceMoleculeFinder2026-11-09
Keep exploring
More related molecules
- Retinol No functional group in common: Retinol carries an alcohol group, while Isotretinoin carries a carboxylic acid group.
- β-Ionone No functional group in common: β-Ionone carries a ketone group, while Isotretinoin carries a carboxylic acid group.
- Zeaxanthin No functional group in common: Zeaxanthin carries an alcohol group, while Isotretinoin carries a carboxylic acid group.
- Astaxanthin No functional group in common: Astaxanthin carries an alcohol group, while Isotretinoin carries a carboxylic acid group.
- Lutein No functional group in common: Lutein carries an alcohol group, while Isotretinoin carries a carboxylic acid group.
Sources and notes
- A group apartfrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison captions
- Similar in shapecomputedRDKit Morgan/TanimotoNeighbours by structural fingerprint; the sentence names the chemical groups the two share.
- The drawingscomputedPubChem structures, drawn by RDKit